The psychometric characteristics of an assessment instrument for perceived harmfulness in adolescents with musculoskeletal pain (PHODA-youth)

J.A. Verbunt*, A. Nijhuis, Margit Vikström, A. Stevens, N. Haga, J. de Jong, M. Goossens

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Cognitive-behavioural models of chronic pain predict that dysfunctional assumptions about harmfulness of activities may maintain pain-related fear and disability. To assess perceived harmfulness in adolescents, the Photograph Series of Daily Activities for youth (PHODA-youth) was developed. Information concerning its methodological quality is currently lacking. OBJECTIVE: To investigate psychometric characteristics (factor structure, test-retest reliability, construct validity) and feasibility of the PHODA-youth in adolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain. STUDY DESIGN: Test-retest design. STUDY POPULATION: Adolescents aged 13-21 years with chronic nonspecific musculoskeletal pain. METHODS: Participants filled in an electronic version of the PHODA-youth including 89 items twice with a 4-week interval. The instrument's factor structure was determined by a factor analysis. Construct validity was studied with criterion variables: catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children), pain intensity (visual analogue scale), depression (Children's Depression Inventory) and pain-related disability (Functional Disability Inventory) using regression analysis. Test-retest reliability was evaluated based on the Pearson correlation coefficient. Feasibility was studied with self-constructed questions. RESULTS: Seventy-one adolescents participated. Results show a three-factor structure for the PHODA-youth including 51 items with subscales labelled as: 'activities of daily life', 'intensive physical activities' and 'social activities'. Total and subscale scores showed a high internal consistency. Its test-retest reliability was good (r = 0.94) and its construct validity is supported by the finding that both catastrophizing (beta = 0.25; p = 0.02) and disability (beta = 0.71; p < 0.001) were uniquely related to the PHODA-youth. In addition, feasibility appeared adequate. CONCLUSION: The findings support the PHODA-youth as a valid and reliable measure of the perceived harmfulness of activities in adolescents with musculoskeletal pain.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)695-705
Number of pages11
JournalEuropean Journal of Pain
Volume19
Issue number5
Early online date22 Sept 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2015

Keywords

  • FEAR-AVOIDANCE MODEL
  • FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY INVENTORY
  • CHILDRENS DEPRESSION INVENTORY
  • LOW-BACK-PAIN
  • VERSION
  • REHABILITATION
  • IMPACT
  • SCALE
  • STATE

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